Chris Powell has been discussed as an addition to the England men's national team's coaching staff.GETTY IMAGES
The FA is "preparing to take positive action" to promote black, Asian and ethnic minority coaches by making it "mandatory for all England teams to have an ethnic minority coach as a member of their staff," according to Matt Hughes of the LONDON TIMES. In an "indication of how seriously the FA is taking the issue," England Manager Gareth Southgate has reportedly "been asked how he would feel" about adding a BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) coach to his staff for this summer’s World Cup, but the England manager "is reluctant to make changes" to his backroom team so close to the tournament. Southgate is understood to "support the idea in principle," however, with FA sources indicating that the manager would be willing to accept an addition to England’s coaching staff next season "if the right candidate is available." Chris Powell, the Southend United manager who has taken charge of Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town, "has been earmarked as a potential addition" to Southgate’s staff after the World Cup. Taking in youth, women’s and disability football, the FA "is responsible for running 28 national teams and is actively looking for candidates to employ next season." The FA has compiled a list of male and female coaches with the requisite qualifications and "hopes to make an announcement of several new appointments before the end of the season" (LONDON TIMES, 3/20).
